Take Two: Romans 3, Proverbs 9

Romans 3 echos (somewhat) what we discussed yesterday. We are all (whether Jew or Greek) in the same position before God. We stand condemned for our sins, great and small. The only plea we have before God is the propitiation (i.e. the complete satisfaction of God's Holy wrath against our sin) that Christ provides.

A couple of insights from the chapter for me. In vv.1-2, Paul addresses the issue regarding the advantages of being a Jew. It is a fair question he asks...since both Jew and Greek stand alike before God..."What has the benefit been of being a Jew." If there is no special consideration before God of getting a free pass or at least some credit for keeping the Law...then why would anyone want to be a Jew? Paul answers by noting that the advatage is in being "entrusted with the oracles (mysteries) of God. While keeping the Law did not make them righteous...it did allow them to understand more of the character, heart, and purpose of God. Furthermore, to entrust someone with something implies more than just relating information. It speaks of information and responsibility to do something with it. It literally means to put trust in.

In the mind of the Apostle (writing here under the inspiration fo the Holy Spirit), while the Law could not save...it communicated special revelation about God to a people entrusted with the knowledge. The Law could not justify (which means to make one judicially righteous before God). Justification comes only as a gift through Christ's redeeming work (v.24).

CATCH THIS NOW: Because of the redemption in Christ, God could be demonstrated to be Just (Righteous and Holy in pouring out wrath against sin) and Merciful (having chosen to justify in Christ those who have sinned-- v.26).

So to put it in a modern day parable: It is like having a standard of perfection for your children to uphold that they cannot meet...and then meeting it for them. You continue to be perfect and you are merciful by doing the work for them that they might be found perfect as well.

APPLICATION: So how do you deal with what you are entrusted with? Do you realize the advantage that you have over most people in the world? You have great and vast knowledge of who God is, what God has done, and what God will do. How have you responded to what has been entrusted to you? If the life of Christ is any indication of what we are expected to do with what is entrusted...then we are to tell everyone. We are to communicate what was entrusted to us as messengers with good news to tell. We are to sow graciously! We are to share all we know with all those we know. What is the essence of our purpose? To know God (understand the mystery/oracle of God), and to make Him known (share what we know with others).

Proverbs 9:6 is the takeaway today. "Forsake your folly (foolishness) and live, and proceed in the way of understanding." There is no way to become wise without forsaking foolishness. One cannot hold onto human wisdom and appropriate godly wisdom at the same time. Part of gaining godly wisdom is learning things you did not know. Another component (and very prominent in my life) is unlearning what you know. Living a life that honors God is as much about "not doing" as it is about "doing." One cannot please God without faith. Living out one's faith is about forsaking that which is comfortable and embracing that with is known only to God.
Grace,